Boss Paul Jewell felt Town’s 0-0 draw at Derby was the traditional game of two halves. The Blues were the better side before the break with the Rams on top in the second period.

Jewell said: “I thought first half we were excellent, but we just lacked that cutting edge.

“I think it was the classic game of two halves, we were better than them in the first half and they put us under severe pressure in the second.

“I thought the back four played excellently, they had to defend a lot of corners, a lot of balls in the box. Both sides hit the post and I think their keeper made a couple of good saves in the first half.

“I was disappointed in our second half performance going forward because I thought that in the first half some of our passing, some of the situations we got in, we should have made more of but we didn’t.”

Despite failing to score, the Town manager was happy not to have conceded at the other end for the 12th time this season: “I’m pleased we kept the clean sheet. It’s obviously been an Achilles’ heel of ours, conceding goals. That isn’t just down to the back four, like stopping goals isn’t just down to the back four.

“But I think we had to do better in the second half. The ball came back too easily. In all areas in the first half, we dominated, in the second we had to defend for our lives.”

Jewell felt Jason Scotland had some effect when he came on: “Jason gets hold of it, he backs in and he makes it difficult for defenders but, as I say, in the second half going forward we carried very little threat and that disappoints me. But first half we were excellent.”

Town similarly tired after the break at Watford recently but the Blues boss didn’t think fatigue was particularly an issue: “I think Derby have played the same amount of games. I don’t think we can use tiredness as an excuse.

“It’s going to be a factor on Monday, I would think, but certainly you wouldn’t have said we looked tired in the first half.

“Second half, we went a bit deeper, we couldn’t get hold of the ball, we couldn’t pass it, but let’s give Derby credit, they played well in the second half.

“This isn’t an easy place to come, Nigel Clough’s got them going at home, I think they’ve won three out of the last four here, so it was a good point for us.”

Rams boss Clough felt his side could have done with greater quality and a bit more luck inside the Town box: “I thought in the first half they bossed it, had the majority of the play, but I thought we had the better situations but once again didn’t quite make the most of them - a few long range shots and things.

“I thought we got in some good positions but just couldn’t put one across the face of the goal. Having said that, I think the best first chance of the first half was Theo Robinson’s when Gareth Roberts crossed it, he just got a toe on it and it went just wide.

“That was the story of the day for us. We couldn’t get either a bit of luck or a bit of quality in the penalty area at the end.

“Plenty of corners, plenty of pressure in the second half, and once again when we got on the front foot and pressed them back - like we have done in recent weeks - the majority of the game was played in their half.

“We’re pleased with the clean sheet, we don’t have too many 0-0s here. That’s 41 games and it’s the first 0-0 at home all season, which isn’t bad.”

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 17:58 - Apr 7 Another game of 2 halves! we hear this soo often, when we will control a game for 90 minutes? haven't won away since the injury time winner to Coventry but will take a point away from home all the same.
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bluearmy4life added 18:35 - Apr 7 Not a bad point away from home. Lets follow this up with a win against Leicester on Monday! COYB
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lTFC added 18:44 - Apr 7 Need to find a clinical finisher in the summer IMO
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Mark added 19:05 - Apr 7 A decent result at Derby and we have matched the 56 points that Roy Keane got in the whole of 2010/11. We need two more wins to equal last season's 62 points...
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fourth added 19:15 - Apr 7 Listening to the first half one had the impression of a butterfly showing its beautiful wings on a spring morning. But prettiness doesn't really score goals, does it. The skills are there. They need to be channelled That's up to PJ and his team
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Garv added 19:25 - Apr 7 Do you mean 09/10 Mark? Actually Timmy we beat Pompey away 1-0 the game after Coventry. Point away from home is never bad, and Derby are in exactly the same part of the table as us so I can't really complain. Not sure what to make of the fixture on Monday, could go either way.
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Keaneish added 19:25 - Apr 7 Pleased with a point away and clean sheet although that is the play-off chase pretty much over now, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Criticism today has to be levelled at the substitutions and the options available. If we need to drastically change things to get in the game then the options of Bullard, Carson and Scotland are far more effective additions than Bowyer, Stevenson and Scotland. Make a double substitution of Carson and Scotland and ten minutes later bring Jimmy into the fold then you give teams something to think about. Didn't like the way the subs were handled today.

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SitfcB added 19:31 - Apr 7 I think we have 12 clean sheets?
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Lathers added 19:42 - Apr 7 didn't go today, but doesn't sound like we went all out to win a game which would have kept us in with a faint chance of the play-offs?
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Blue041273 added 19:45 - Apr 7 This morning I would have taken the draw. Wasn't there today but the reports I've heard/read suggest that it was a fair result. However the stats show we had 8 shots on target. Following on from the Barnsley game our current conversion rate is clearly poor. Still, that's football! Perhaps the shots will go in on Monday. Any win and Nugent not scoring would make my Bank Holiday.

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Pip50 added 20:16 - Apr 7 Mark - we need two more wins to...... 5 games left can someone tell me how this is progress. Things will only be much tougher as we become more toothless in the market and look to drive, down current wages. Going to need some miracle work next year for top six best be satisfied with two more wins !!
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Garv added 20:57 - Apr 7 12 clean sheets definitely. @Keaneish I think to be honest Jewell was holding out for the draw. We've lost far too many games this season when we should have drawn or even won and we don't draw enough games anyway so playing for the draw isn't a bad thing in this case. I think its quite hard to change a game completely when a team is dominating you so much as Derby seemed to be doing, so just trying to weather it can sometimes be the better option rather than going for the win ourselves when we are not in a position to expect to do so.

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Langdon_Blue added 21:03 - Apr 7 Pip50 - there has been good progress made over the last 13 games, we are much harder to beat, create more chances, look more confident, know our strongest team...everyone is hoping that we have now finally turned a corner since the Keane era and that we start 2012-13 and continue throughout next season in our current form. I hope that has helped clear up your confusion ;-)

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roytheboy added 21:09 - Apr 7 Where is Jimmy Bullard when you need him ?
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HALLSJ added 21:32 - Apr 7 As a Town fan who lives in Staffs and does not drive this was my first game of the season. When I used to drive before my Epilepsy kicked in I used to go regularly home & away. Firstly may I say that the first half was 60/40 us IMO their keeper made three good quality save with ALB having very little too do. The second half was more like 70/30 Derby but as they are the home team and also on form I would have expected that TBH. Overall in normal circumstances a draw at Derby should not be sniffed at, a pretty good point I feel. Hope we can do Leicester then we could well push for a top 10 finish, that would be a good season considering where we were at Christmas.

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Garv added 21:36 - Apr 7 I don't think Jimmy Bullard is someone you want when you're under pressure really.
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PhilTWTD added 21:38 - Apr 7 SitfcB Sorry, that's correct. Misinformed, I should have checked myself. Amended!
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bluelady added 22:09 - Apr 7 For those knocking Bowyer he was excellent when he came on, much more up for it than others! Chopra had a quiet game again, first touch letting him down and although sometimes illegally he was pushed off ball too often, like to see Scotland start Monday looked stronger and sharper.... good first half, some lovely passing but very poor second half. Need an impact player off bench with pace, q Carson. Also what has happened to JB, we need his creativity. Still a great day out and lots of laughs, Derby fans very friendly

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michaeldownunder added 22:29 - Apr 7 A good point away from home Defence stood up well, how often have we said that this season? This is the problem with only 5 subs instead of 7 on the bench no room for Bullard/Carson impact type player or a young up and coming player to get experience This is daft when the football league cannot provide a proper reserve league and FIFA want to amend the loan system. Back to 7 sub's next season please, two of them have to be under 21/home grown players

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geography26 added 22:32 - Apr 7 We can't be relegated anymore and no chance of play-offs so time for young players to come in please Jewell
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ClassyCranson added 22:47 - Apr 7 I didn't go to the game but I am not sure why the performance was as flat as it seems. Why were we happy to take a point when we are in mid table and nothing to lose by going for the 3 points? Well done ALB another clean sheet. The lad deserves far more credit than he gets. Although he's gone back to Reading, PJ didnt need to bring in McCarthy. ALB will be an excellent back up keeper next season and needs as much game time as possible. Although the team has played alot better since mid January, its been a poor season overall. PJ for the last 5 games of this season give some fringe players a chance. Nothing to lose by doing that.

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Mark added 23:32 - Apr 7 Yes, sorry, I meant 2009/10. The totals are... 2011/12 under Jewell: 56 points (so far) 2010/11 under Keane / Jewell: 62 points 2009/10 under Keane: 56 points 2008/09 under Magilton: 66 points 2007/08 under Magilton: 69 points 2006/07 under Magilton: 62 points 2005/06 under Royle: 56 points
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algarvefan added 01:35 - Apr 8 None of that makes impressive reading Mark, hopefully we can improve more next season?
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Keaneish added 01:40 - Apr 8 Take your point Garv. Given that a win would have out us 6 points if the play-offs and further up the table though for a better final position and pay out from the football league, i'd like us to have thrown more at it and tried to change it up a bit more than we did to win the game. In Mexico at the moment so wasn't at the game but sounds like from Bluelady that Bowyer put in a good shift when he came on.

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bluelady added 09:06 - Apr 8 Keanish I think he is useful off the bench, but def not starting 11. That said would prefer a real play maker like Bullard, rem him svorong at derby last yr, we miss that creative spark and at times that killer pass. I hope we see the old jimmy, he didn't even travel yesterday whereas Carson (who looks over weight) and hyam were in the travelling and warming up group of players.....,was also good of damo to show his six pack off, hmm that made my day :-)

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